Yamauchi is formerly the alliance’s global vice president of purchasing. To fill his position, the two companies will promote Veronique Sarlat-Depotte, who is currently the alliance’s global purchasing director for body and electrical components.

After getting a degree in social science at International Christian University in Tokyo, Yamauchi joined Nissan in 1981.

Purchasing is one of four key business functions that Renault and Nissan targeted for joint savings last April. The other key functions are engineering, manufacturing and personnel.

By boosting efficiency in those four activities, Renault and Nissan said they hope to achieve at least $5.4 billion in annual savings by 2016, up from $3.6 billion in 2013.